Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-09-24
THE DRUMMER'S REVENGE

delight Of travelling statesmen, those demi.
gods OF the country, whose mythology
owes its origin to BaiZac. This does not
mean that Gaudissart's descendants are
unkind divinitics. On the contrary, they
are. as rule, good natured devils, fond
of the pleasures Of the table, which is a
very legitimate liking, besides heartily
relishing a good laugh and making the
most Of life. These gay companions are
not satisfied with enjoying anything alone.
A fig for egotism. that vice of ill natured
people! Their gayety is of Communica-
tive sort, and their supreme delight is to
relate TO each other the tricks and pranks
practiced on some fellow drummer. Their
jokes are generally of free and easy
species, and. as n rule, no drummer cares
about keeping the last lick. 1nde irde
From this peculiarity arises an unquench-
able thirst for revenge.
Their anger is generally short lived. and
is soon dissipated by the contents Of q
bottle OF champagne. They are very un-
relenting. however, and they make it a
matter of conscience To get even with the
fellow joker that has hoaxed them. Just
think. Let us imagine one of them to
have been at PcrigneuX, the victim Of q
practical joke How could he dare to re-
turn to that town. the scene of Romen's
greatest exploits, unless he could say at
the table d'hote: You know, caught up
with him at Bordeaux, and. l tell you, l
paid him back in his own coin with heavy
interest" Instances are cited in which
retribution has been delayed for two or
three years, and the sweets OF revenge en-
joyed only after the victim had Travelled
% l,,t
like certain wines that are improved by a
voyage to India and back, the enjoyment
was all the greater on account of the de-
lay. 1t is no rare thing TO hear the Chev-
alier de In Guelte. escortinG the Baron des
Rossignols to the depot at Beziers, say:
..As for you. old fellow. I shall pay you
back at Dunkirk in six months time" :"
The Baron des Rossignols may rely on the
meeting his obligations Mt ma
turity.
As for me. said friend Doublure. I
did not have to wait so very long for re-
venge. the last time. when l got even
with that confounded scamp, Bechard.
Bechard Is not bad fellow. but he is the
most inveterate joker that ever lived.
His system is rather on the old style. He
has no creative genius, and tries to keep
ahead by practicing n lot of classical jokes
which he always keeps in stock. His
is so sterile that he is com
PEELED to rely on quantity to replace what
is wanting in quality. But, in this world,
everybody ioes the best he can. Yet, in
doing what he can, Bechard becomes Il
bore with his jokes. When he has picked
any one out as the butt Of his wit the
victim has either to display his temper,
which always shows bad form, or to leave
the place TO Bechard and go elsewhere.
On my last trip to Quimper i had need
Of all my patience on his account. Hav-
ing stopped at the Hotel de rEpee met
him at the breakfast table. Delighted in
finding a good subject to practice on. my
friend Bechard went to work without loss
of time. In the evening, at dinner. fritters
were brought in. Bechard, who had left
the dining room for minute. returned just
in time to take the dish from the waiter
and place two frtters upon my plate. At
the first bite my teeth met with a soft re-
sistance that set them on edge. l took
the fritter between my fingers. and open
ing it, found small card, round as n
coin. bearing this inscription: The best
cloth may be had from the house Of -"
s - - ~ -,
... e.. 80 ,ta 80. pa 60 I;1
~. -. s,..,.5 on, ,o,o,h.r 70 ,ha cogo.
,.os
On N. sid.ro,l NJ III. rerr doc, ~ Tho
Daat...s -, -. IonJ.as
,rh;nI, ono.n,oa. ha ,ros 49, t;nd
a,n,,., =, 49, ,r h,,-r;no ,,a,.b :,
~, ,s,,, -. h,,. h.ta-a : ~ c,nn. ef,r
st.ns ,,schtt, zoo, po,,,or c.,5I. b,.,si
.,,t ba,,...r w. ,..,h ,..rJ, h,;ra;n,
on., ~ nv c,s,o,,.rs wbo had come nm to
sneoL 70 ~. n. w.,, awav fnrious and
7 -. h;s ,r,,. ,.h;I. =, ~. d;s,anc. ~
,hroa st.ns Rechard w.s cl;ngiro 70 a
,a,,,n ,,,st i.roh;n- ., Ill, h;r,..jf A.
,ha roty,a hnrs. 10 s.,,saJ ,,o % .,n,,bI.
,ho,ah,. ,,,aI;nr, mo too ,hs cIoth ~ III.
,';II;arJ ,ahIa wb;cb mishon cos, mo
,,rantr fr.ncs Ja,sr ~, ,va rs,nrn.d 10
,h. hc,aI
W. stored awhile cbattiro ritb tho
,orJI,rJ Recbord COON Ief, ne hsg,;ne
tn hs excussd as be fei, xary s,aepx I
J;d 10, ~ M S,,;-s ,,n,;, f,liy orar,.-
81 an bonr af,.r no Ala .rd T .n, sn,e
,h.t ,n,, ,,;n M, ba o.,onisba5 ,rbon I
toll xon tba, he had made cool use NJ the
sf,oon ,,,inu,.s Wb.n mn, nv ksv into
the loci found tba, 7 could NOT omen
tho dor. II w.s fastened on the inside
,ft.r oil u,s !, rs,Iiy INV room, xvi
Jantiv NO, as hoard IN tho inside tho
grr,nbIing Of somehoJv whose sInmber,
had hean dis+nrhad 7 retnrned down
stairs No there was no mistake ..Yonr
r"on, ia To "a sirr, vent nm aeain
,nd this ,ins sncca.5ad IN onen;no thu
door. lam in nv room. No. by ,Joyel il be-
longs to somebody else, for there is a per-
son in the bed. beg his pardon. and an
on the point of withdrawing when an idea
strikes me. Going to the bed, gently
tap the sleeper on the shoulder and find
that l have been trying to arouse-my
bolster. to which l had been addressing
of the mystery when discovered a nanei